Turkey’s premier withdraws about 1,500 insult lawsuits

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim says he has withdrawn lawsuits against about 1,500 people, including opposition politicians, journalists and writers, for insulting him or his office.

Speaking Tuesday night in a live interview with CNN Turk, Yildirim said he withdrew the lawsuits Monday. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also said he will drop insult lawsuits against him, as a gesture toward the opposition as they seek to forge better relations in the wake of a failed July 15 coup.

Yildirim announced the withdrawal of the lawsuits after saying he was determined to continue working more closely with the opposition. The ruling party’s policies have often been seen as polarizing.

“There are so many issues we can solve through dialogue,” Yildirim said. “This country belongs to all of us.”

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